Cork public urged to report Asian hornet sightings  

Any sightings of Asian hornets in Ireland should be reported. This can be done on Invasive Species in Ireland’s website.

The advice comes after 1,356 reports of the hornet were made last year, amid concerns of the presence of the invasive insect in the country.

Of those reports, 36 were confirmed as Asian hornets, with two nests removed in Cork.

The so-called yellow-legged hornet is an apex predator of honey bees and other pollinating insects.

The hornet, native to Asia, has proven extraordinarily adept at colonising new environments, with its European presence traceable to one mated queen, which was accidentally introduced to Bordeaux, in France, in 2004.

Since then, the Asian hornet has become more established in France, Spain, Portugal, and parts of the UK.

Weaken

The hornet is known to weaken bee colonies, reduce honey production, and disrupt foraging. In some regions, the cost of protecting hives takes up about 30% of a beekeeper’s income.

The hornet is 2cm-3cm in length, with a black body and an orange-tipped tail. The native giant wood wasp is frequently mistaken for an Asian hornet.

The wood wasp is usually much larger than 5cm or more, yellow and black in colour, and is a widespread species.

In an update on Monday, Invasive Alien Species in Ireland urged the public to report any sightings to its online tool.

Asian hornets might be seen visiting flowers and fruits, or near beehives. They are also attracted to roadkill, fish sold in markets, and other sources of protein and can be seen hovering over sweet or alcoholic drinks.